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Military Order of fl^e bo^al be^ion 



Onited §fafGS. 



dOfflMANDEI^Y OF THE DI^T[(ICT OF tm^\\. 



WAR PAPERS. 

69 

TKe Third ©'ay al Slcne'E i^^ivcr. 

PREPARED BY COMPANION 

If 

Lieutenant-Colonel 

GILBERT C. KNIFFIN, 

U. S. Volunteers, 

AND 

read at the stated meeting of may K 1907. 



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alljr ultfirb iay at dtnup 5 Siurr, 



While thie heroic commander of tlie Union Army, with fear- 
less confidence in his remaining troops, was hnrling the hard- 
hitting brigades of the left and center upon Hardee's victo- 
rious advance during the first day of the fight at Stones 
River, kindling anew the dying embers. of hope in the breasts 
of the retreating soldiers of the right, and by his exalted cour- 
age snatching victory from the jaws of defeat ; while Thomas, 
calm and brave, with perfect presence of mind, superintended 
every move in the desperate game of battle, watchful of every 
point, a tower of strength to his devoted men, and Critten- 
den, more cheerful than usual in tlie hell of carnage that raged 
along his front, brought regiment after regiment and battcrv 
after battery in support of the ix)int where Hazen. and Has- 
call, and Grose, and Cruft were clinging tenaciously to their 
position, and beating back the desperate charges of Polk and 
Breckinridge, the cavalry were performing prodigies of valor 
in the rear and on the right. General Wheeler, on his re- 
turn from his exploits at La Verne, to the rear of Hardee's 
line on the morning of the 31st. found that the battle had 
opened. He immediately joined in the pursuit of Johnson's 
retiring division, while \\'hart(^n. in command of ten regiments 
of cavalry, and a battery of artillery, moved over towards the 
Nashville pike and turned his attention to the immense supj)lv 
train of the army. A portion of this train, six miles long 
when stretched out upon the road, was moving across the 
country from the Wilkinson to the Xashville pike. The scene 
was one of the most indescribable confusion. IVfred bv 



impending- calamity the canvas-covered wagons flew across the 
fields with the velocity of four-mule power, each driver plying 
whip and spur ; sutler wagons bounding over the rocks, dis- 
tributed their precious contents along the w^ay. Stanley's 
thin line of cavalry, stretching from the woods in the rear of 
Negley to the right and left, rested its right flank upon the 
Wilkinson pike, where Colonel Zahm, with the First, Third, 
and Fourth Ohio Cavalry w^as stationed in rear of Overall's 
Creek. 

Colonel Minty, in command of 950 cavalry, crossed Overall's 
Creek early in the morning and took position parallel to and a 
mile distant from the Nashville pike. The Fourth Michigan 
and First Tennessee dismounted, formed a skirmish line with 
Jenning's Battalion of the Seventh Pennsylvania and two 
companies of the Third Kentucky, under Captain Davis, sup- 
ported by the Anderson Troop in their rear. Wharton ad- 
vanced at full charge, after a few volleys from his artillery, 
but meeting with stubborn resistance drew oflf, but in a few 
minutes rallied and bore down, two thousand strong, upon 
Minty's little command. The Anderson Troop gave way and 
the Confederate troopers swept past the left. Hastily re- 
mounting, the remainder of the command fell back across an 
open field out of range of the artillery, leaving the train, with 
fully a thousand fugitives from the battle-field, in possession 
of the enemy. At daybreak Zahm's brigade was drawn up 
in line of battle and two squadrons were sent to the right and 
front to reconnoitre. Soon the cannons' opening roar upon 
his left announced the beginning of battle. The rush of in- 
fantry to the rear gave token of disaster. Now came the ex- 
ultant shout of victory and the sweeping charge of McCown's 
columns overlapping Johnson, and appearing on the right of 
the cavalry. Falling back, Zahm formed in line of battle a 



mile in rear, where the enemy opened upon him with artillery 
The first shell killed Major Moore, of the First Ohio. Again 
he fell back, when Willich's old regiment halted in its retreat 
and formed in support of the cavalry, when the two repulsed 
a charge, but only for a moment. The torrent of fugitives 
fled through the woods like leaves before the blast, and after 
them pressed the charging regiments of Ector and Raines' 
Confederate cavalry in resistless volume. Meanwhile, Whar- 
ton's Cavalry Brigade was moving rapidly past Colonel Zahm's 
right, and the Confederate infantry pushing by his left at a 
distance of two hundred yards. An aide to General McCook 
came requesting succor for the supjily train moving over 
toward the Nashville pike. Col. Gates P. Thruston, one of 
McCook's aides, gave a graphic picture of the capture and re- 
capture of the precious supply train. "McCook's baggage 
train, starting for the rear, was soon in the hands of the enemy ; 
our supply trains shared the same fate. Gen. Joe Wheeler's 
command appeared in rear of our flank on the Murfreesboro 
pike, and all soon became excitement and confusion there. 
Wharton, after a succession of captures, charged over the 
fields in rear far down toward our infantry lines, sweeping 
everything before him. By Rosecrans' orders Stanley's Cav- 
alry hastened to the rescue. There was a succession of con- 
flicts over a wide field, with varying fortunes. The whole 
area in rear between our right and left was a scene of strife 
and confusion that beggars description. Stragglers from the 
front, teamsters, couriers, negro servants, hospital attendants, 
ambulances added to the turmoil. Wounded and riderless 
horses and cattle, wild with friglit, rushed frantically over 
the field. 

While in the open ground, moving our ammunition train 
rapidly to the left, it was discovered by the enemy. In my 



anxiety for its safety I had already reported the importance 
of the train to every cavalry officer within reach, and appealed 
for protection. Colonel Zahm, of the Second Ohio Cavalry 
as he states in his report (official record), promised me all 
possible help, and promptly formed his regiment in line for 
that pnrpose. Major Pugh, of the Fourth Ohio Cavalry, at 
my request also placed his regiment on our flank, facing the 
enemy. The First Ohio and the Second East Tennessee and 
a battalion of the Third Ohio Cavalry were near at hand. 

Alas, when the crisis came a few minutes later they were 
not in position to successfully withstand the shock. They were 
unprepared, and not in brigade line. Wharton's Confederates 
unexpectedly appeared in great force. His artillery opened 
fire furiously upon the Fourth Ohio Cavalry, and threw the 
regiment into some confusion. Soon apparently his entire 
command charged down upon us like a tempest, his troopers 
yelling like a lot of devils. They first struck the Fourth Ohio, 
which could make but little resistance. Col. Minor Millikin, 
the gallant commander of the First Ohio, led a portion of his 
regiment in a brilliant counter charge, but had to retire with 
fearful losses. In the onslaught the dear, fearless colonel, my 
intimate college friend, engaged in single combat with a 
Texas ranger, and was slain. 

"There was no staying the Confederates. They outnumbered 
and outflanked us. and, to tell the melancholy truth, our de- 
fending cavalry finally retired in confusion to the rear and 
left the ammunition train to its fate — high and dry in a corn 
field. As may be imagined, our teamsters, the train guards, 
and the ordnance officer (yes, I must admit it), were not left 
far behind in the general stampede. We fired one volley 
from behind the protection of our wagons and then hunted 
cover in the rear of a friendly fence and in the nearest thicket. 



Our teamsters outran the cavalry. Most of them never re- 
appeared. The Confederates began to collect and lead away 
our teams and wagons, and our condition seemed desperate, 
indeed, hopeless. 

"Happily, this appalling state of aflfairs did not last long. 
Some of our cavalry rallied, other Union detachments came to 
the rescue. Wharton had soon to look to his own flanks, and 
was kept too busy to carry otl our train. The conflict fortu- 
nately shifted. Capt. Elmer Otis, with six companies of the 
Fourth Regular Cavalry, atacked Wharton's command with 
great vigor and success. Soon two battalions of the Third 
Ohio Cavalry came up from the rear. I hastened to appeal 
to the commander to aid our train guard in saving the train, 
and he at once covered our front and held the enemy in check 
until our badly-wrecked train, with its disabled wagons and 
scattered animals was reorganized and put in moving order. 
We repaired and patched up the breaks. Everybody, even offi- 
cers and stragglers helped, and nearly every wagon was finally 
recovered." 

The third attack referred to by General Thruston came from 
a force that Wharton had not yet met. Before they had time 
to take advantage of their success, Kennett was upon them. 
Col. Eli H. Murray, at the head of his gallant regiment, the 
Third Kentucky, charged down upon the train, sweeping 
Wharton's cavalry before him. Here the brave Captain Wolf- 
ley, with eighty men, and Captain Breathitt, with his battalion, 
charged with such velocity as to turn the tide of battle, driv- 
ing the rear forward upon the front, where the Fourth Cavalry 
struck it with drawn sabers. The rout of the Confederates was 
complete. The entire train, with 250 prisoners, were recap- 
tured. The hospital of Palmer's division, which had fallen 
into their hands, as well as the Fifth Wisconsin Battery, and 



8 

one section of the First Ohio, were recaptured, and Wharton's 
Brigade routed and driven back two miles. The Third Ohio 
easily rallied and took part in the fray. Captain Otis' saber 
charge was brilliantly executed. Dashing forward with the 
velocity of a locomotive, the trained battalions fell upon the 
undisciplined mob huddled together at the head of the train 
where Murray had swept them in his irresistible onslaught. 
The train was moved close up in the rear of the left wing, 
where it remained unmolested during the remainder of the 
day. . In a battle such as that at Stones River, where a long 
line of troops is engaged simultaneously, it is impossible to 
give due credit to each regiment that deserves it. The writer 
witnessed scenes of personal daring which to recount would 
occupy the night in the description. There were many in- 
stances in which officers, casting aside their swords, seized the 
muskets of their fallen soldiers, and fought side by side with 
their men. Entire companies fought without officers. In 
great emergencies such as this there is positively no rank ex- 
cept that which valor bestows. Orders to fall back were in 
several cases unheeded, and the men held their places in line 
under the leaden hail, obstinately refusing to retreat. It was 
not merely a line of battle, but a Nation in arms, repelling, 
with a Nation's pride, this bold assault of its rebellious sons 
upon its life. 

Darkness covered the battle-field. The roar of artillery, the 
rattle of musketry, the hoarse shouts of command had ceased, 
and in the silence that followed there fell upon the ears of 
the soldiers on picket the groans of men in mortal agony lying 
within the space that separated the lines. In rear of the pick- 
ets men sank upon the ground where they stood and shivered 
through the night without fires, for the faintest flash of light 
on either side became a target for alert artillerists. A cup of 



hot coffee, that Dominus donari to the weary soldier, on this 
night of all nights when he needed it most, was denied him. 
All through the night the ambulances passed to and fro on 
the road to the hospitals, where further torture awaited the 
wounded, unless the angel of death kindly relieved' them of 
the ministrations of the surgeons. A space twenty yards in 
front of the White House, near Overall's Creek, was covered 
with the mangled forms of men awaiting their turn upon the 
operating tables. Inside were groups of surgeons with sleeves 
rolled up to the elbows, their brawny arms red with blood, one 
handling the saw, another the knife, another the probe, while 
others bound up the bleeding stumps and turned the patient, 
henceforth the Nation's ward, over to nurses, who bore them 
tenderly away. In a corner lay a ghastly heap of arms and 
legs and hands and feet, useless forevermore. The busy fing- 
ers which had indited the last fond message to the anxious 
\vife or mother would never caress them more. Does this 
horrible recital grate upon the ear? It is as much a part of 
the history of a battle as is the furious charge and repulse from 
which it resulted. Forty years have passed since that awful 
scene was witnessed. The stalwart young men left upon the 
firing line are old men now, and, in the judgment of some 
chiefs of bureaus, too old to longer serve the Government. 

The writer, returning from a ride along the lines, where 
he had been under orders to see that all fires were extinguished, 
came upon a regular battery, in the rear of which, at the 
bottom of a trench of glowing coals, the artillerists were cook- 
ing supper. The savory smell of broiling steak anrl steamiuL,^ 
pots of coffee saluted his nostrils. Dismounting, he was at 
once invited to partake of a soldier's hospitality. His tired 
horse was fed, and in a moment he received at the hands of a 
grizzl} veteran a cup of coffee and a cake of hard bread, cov- 



10 

ered with jnicy steak, tender and succulent. His meal dis- 
patched, he was about to remount and ride back to headquar- 
ters, when he was asked if he knew where the steak camcfrom. 
He said he did not, but that it was the best he ever ate. "Come 
here, and I will show you," said the sergeant. He led the way 
a few yards distant where an artillery horse lay dead, killed 
by a cannon ball. His flank had been stripped of the skin, and 
the tender, juicy steak that had contributed to the enjoyment 
of the writer had been cut from the flesh. 

At army headquarters a strange scene, revealing the char- 
acteristics of the prominent commanding officers, was pre- 
sented. With prudent regard for the safety of his supplies. 
General Rosecrans had ordered the subsistence train back to 
Nashville, thus enabling him to manoeuver his army without 
regard to front or rear. There was no indication that Bragg 
contemplated withdrawal, and the prevailing impresssion was. 
that a heavy assault would be made upon some point of the 
Union line early in the morning. Where would the blow 
fall ? Would the line at that point be strong enough to re- 
sist it? Has Bragg any troops that have not been engaged? 
Are reinforcements for him on the way? were questions more 
easily asked than answered. 

Mounting his horse, the commanding general rode to the 
rear, accompanied by General Stanley and a few staff officers. 
Past the hospital, to Overall's Creek, the group of horsemen 
pursued their way. In the fields on both sides of the road 
the darkness was dispelled by bivouac fires lighted by the strag- 
gling soldiery of the right wing. Along the pike the long 
supply train moved slowly and steadily toward Nashville, 
while here and there a few wagons were cut out of it by a 
faithful commissary, the contents of which, after a hard night's 
work, he would succeed in transferring to the soldiers' haver- 
sacks. 



11 

Walker's and Starkweather's brigades had already passed 
to the front, where the former bivouacked in close column in 
reserve in rear of McCook's left, and the latter, posted on the 
left of Sheridan, next morning relieved \'an Cleve's division, 
now commanded by Col. Sam Beatty, which resumed its posi- 
tion in the left wing. Generals Van Cleve and Wood, each 
suffering from wounds in the foot, were sent in ambulances 
back to Nashville. 

Headquarters were located in a double log house, which 
then stood on the east side of the turnpike about opposite the 
lower ford of Stones River. In a room on the left hand. Gen- 
eral Thomas sat before a fire, asleep; the officers of his staff, 
stretched upon the floor, with their feet to the fire, were also 
asleep. Ready at a moment's warning to obey any order that 
might be given him, the old soldier was snatching a brief 
respite from care, in the friendly arms of Morpheus. To a 
question of General Rosecrans, earlier in the evening, he had 
made the characteristic reply: "The question of retiring from 
the battle-field is one of such delicacy that I am quite willing 
to leave it to the judgment of the commanding general."' On 
the right of the passageway a far difi'erent scene was pre- 
sented! General Crittenden paced the floor with quick, im- 
patient stride. "Communication is cut off," said one. "W'e 
must fall back," said another, and the words were deliberately 
uttered by a brave man. "My corps is not whipped." shouted 
Crittenden, "and we must not fall back." At this moment 
General Rosecrans entered the room and caught the expres- 
sion as it fell from the lips of his heroic commander. "Gentle- 
men, w^e fight or die right here," said the chief as he passed 
them and took a seat by the fire. 

The sun of the New Year rose bright and fair ; an occasional 
gun gave token of the proximity of the two contending armies. 



12 

During the night Rosecrans retired his left to a more advan- 
tageous position, the extreme left resting on Stones River 
above the lower ford and extending to Stokes' Battery, posted 
on a knoll on Rousseau's right. Beatty's division was posted 
across Stones River on the margin of tlie woodland that cov- 
ered a gentle slope from the river to an open field in their 
front. Across the field, the Lebanon road, running nearly 
at right angles with the front of Beatty's line, was nearly in 
sight. Ofif to their right and front an elevation still held by 
Hanson's Brigade of Breckinridge's division, was crowned by 
Cobb's Battery of Artillery. The Confederate line, formed 
by Polk and Breckinridge on the right and Hardee on the left, 
extended from the point on Stones River where Chalmer's 
Brigade had bivouacked since the 28th, in a direction almost at 
right angles with its original line. 

The body of the brave General Sill was found where it had 
fallen, and sent to Murfreesboro, where it was buried. At 
dawn on the ist of January the right flank of General Polk 
was advanced to occupy the ground vacated by the left flank 
of the Union Army. Neither commander deemed it advisable 
to attack, but each was watchful of every movement of the 
other. The picket lines of either side were thrust forward 
within sight of the main lines of the opposing force, on the 
alert to notify their commanders of any movement in their 
front. As two gladiators of equal strength, who, having 
fought until nature is exhausted, stretch their herculean forms 
upon the earth, each confident that his antagonist is as unable 
as himself to renew the contest, rise when refreshed and glare 
upon each other, watchful for advantage, so were these con- 
tending armies, drawn up in firm array, weaker in numerical 
strength, but more compact and infinitely stronger in indomit- 
able will, on the morning of the New Year, each awaiting the 



13 

order to advance and close in a final struggle. It was the 
crouching of tigers before the death grapple. 

The rest afforded the weary troops of both armies, many 
of whom were smarting with wounds which were not suffi- 
ciently serious to render their removal to the hospital neces- 
sary, fell with the grace of a benediction upon the scene of 
strife. As the ponderous bells of a great city, at stated periods, 
rising above the hum of traffic fill the air with the uproar of 
deep, sonorous strokes, and smaller ones fill with their clangor 
the intervals of sound, so did the artillery ever and anon 
break upon the silence with sullen roar, while the sharp rattle 
of picket firing, now on the right, then on the left, recall the 
terrible strife of yesterday and foretell the impending conflict 

Night came, and the contending hosts sank to rest in the 
mud, upon their arms, in the rear of the stout picket lines, 
lulled to sleep by the booming of an occasional gun or the re- 
port of an exploding shell. The sun arose upon the second 
morning of the new year and glowed pleasantly upon Union and 
Confederate alike. The exercises of the day commenced as 
usual by picket firing along the lines, and was followed by an 
artillery duel between Estepp's Battery of Wood's division and 
Scott's Battery of Cheatham's division, in front of the Round 
Forrest, in which E^tcpp was worsted. Bradley took up tlie 
gauntlet and was fast getting the best of it when one of the 
batteries in his rear undertook to throw grape over his head, 
when he was forced to retire. 

Reinforcements now came to both sides and a spirited con- 
test ensued. Stokes, Loomis, and Guenthcr each in succession 
took part in the fight, which was confined exclusively to artil- 
lery. Robertson's Battery of Wither's division, from its posi- 
tion near the Burnt Brick House, and Semple's Battery on 
the left, had accurate range of the Union batteries, and their 



14 

guns were handled with skill. But the artillery fire soon 
ceased. Chalmer's Brigade had advanced early on New Year's 
morning, and his skirmishers now occupied the ground which 
Hazen had so stubhornly contended for on the first day of 
the battle. Price's Brigade, which assumed its position in 
Van Cleve's division, now commanded by Col. Samuel Beatty. 
was on the right of the division. 

The line as thus formed was at right angles with the river, 
upon which its right flank rested, and nearly parallel to Breck- 
inridge's original line. Below the right of the line the river 
suddenly changes direction, flowing about a half a mile in rear 
and nearly parallel with the line. The gently sloping ground 
was woodland on the right and open field on the left. 

To strengthen the left flank. Colonel Grose's Brigade of 
Palmer's division, reduced by hard fighting on the 31st to 
1,000 effectives, was ordered by General Crittenden to cross 
the river on the morning of the 2d of January. These disposi- 
tions were barely completed and temporary breastworks con- 
structed when, at four o'clock, a magnificent sight presented 
itself. General Bragg confidently expected to find the Union 
Army gone from his front on the morning of the 2d of Jan- 
uary. His cavalry had reported the Nashville pike full of 
troops and wagons moving toward Nashville. On the return 
of the cavalry expedition he sent Wharton to assume command 
of the cavalry on the Lebanon road, consisting of his own 
and Pegram's Brigade, while Wheeler, with his brigade, re- 
turned to the vicinity of the Nashville pike to observe the 
movements of the Union Army in that direction. Before 
Wharton had taken his position, the force east of Stones 
River had attracted Bragg's attention, and reconnaissances by 
staff" officers revealed the line of battle formed by Beatty's 
division and Grose's Brigade. From the position occupied 



15 

by this force, Polk's line, which, it will be remembered, had 
advanced as far as the position vacated by Rosecrans' left on 
the night of the 31st, was enfiladed. Bragg says: "The dis- 
lodgement of this force, or the withdrawal of Polk's line, was 
an evident necessity. The latter involved consequences not to 
be entertained. Orders were accordingly given for the concen- 
tration of the whole of General Breckinridge's division in front 
of the position to be taken, the addition to his command of ten 
Napoleon guns (12-pounders), under Captain Robertson, an 
able and accomplished artillery officer, and for the cavalry 
forces of \Miarton and Pcgram to join in the atack on his 
right." General Breckinridge was sent for and the object of 
the movement explained to him. lie was ordered to drive 
the Union line back, crown the hill, entrench the artillery, and 
hold the position. General Breckinridge was opposed to the 
attack as ordered by General Bragg, and tried to dissuade 
him from it, predicting disaster, as the ground occupied by 
the main portion of the I'nion troops on the bluff on the op- 
posite bank of the river was considerably higher than that over 
which the attacking force must march, and it was possible for 
Rosecrans to mass artillery and sweep the whole field. In 
urging his opinions he drew, with a stick, on the ground the 
position of the contending forces. Considerable time was oc- 
cupied in the discussion, but Bragg remained firm, and finally 
ended the discussion by an imperative command to move at 
once to the attack. As General Breckinridge rode forward to 
his command he met General Preston, commanding his Third 
Brigade, and said : "This attack is made against my judgment 
and by the special orders of General Bragg. Of course we 
must all do our duty and fight the best we can. If it should 
result in disaster, and I be among the slain, I want you to do 
justice CO my memory, and tell the people that I believed this 



16 

movement to be very unwise, and that I tried to prevent it." 

To distract the attention from the real point of attack a 
heavy artillery fire was ordered to be opened from Polk's front 
at the exact hour at which the movement was to begin. At 
other points along both lines all was quiet, and at half-past 
three General Breckinridge reported that he would advance at 
four o'clock. The eiTective strength of Breckinridge's division 
on the morning of the 31st was 7,053. Adding two batteries 
and deducting 730 men disabled in the three brigades of Pal- 
mer, Preston, and Adams, in the assault of the 31st in front of 
the Round Forrest, left 6,576 infantry and artillery, 3,000 cav- 
alry, and seven batteries of artillery with which to make the 
attack. Hanson's fine brigade of Kentuckians, who had sig- 
nalized their valor at Shiloh and Baton Rouge, 1,000 strong, 
had up to this time been disengaged. 

The movement of Breckinridge's command was observed 
by General Crittenden from the bluff on the opposite bank of 
Stones River, above the lower ford, from the moment that the 
advance commenced. To reach Beatty's line it was necessary 
to cross an open space six or seven hundred yards in width, 
with a gentle ascent, in full view from the opposite shore, as 
well as from the front line of Beatty's division. In the assault 
that followed a brief cannonade, Hanson's left was thrown 
forward close to the river bank, with guns loaded and bayonets 
fixed, under orders to fire once, then charge with the bayonet. 
This charge of General Breckinridge will live in the memories 
of those who witnessed it, coupled in precision of formation, in 
rapidity of movement, and in grandeur of execution, if not in 
results, with the charge of the armies of the Cumberland and 
Tennessee at Mission Ridge, the storming of Lookout Moun- 
tain by Geary's division of Hooker's Corps, and the no less 
thrilling spectacle in front of Kenesaw, when the brave and 



17 

lamented Ilarker and McCook, with 2,000 men, were launch- 
ed against a fortified position, bristling with artillery, between 
the two contending armies. On the right of Price's Brigade 
the Eighth Kentucky, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel May. 
received the first attack, made by Colonel Lewis' Sixth Ken- 
tucky, Confederate, followed in quick succession by a charge 
from Hanson's and Pillow's Brigades; then in successive 
strokes from right to left the blows fell all along Beatty's 
line. Overborne by the numerical strength of the Confederate 
brigades, the gallant men of this veteran division, 2.500 strong 
fighting bravely, were hammered back by overwhelming force. 
For full ten minutes they stood in line, pouring a galling fire 
upon the oncoming line, which, leaving its course marked by 
the writhing forms of its fallen braves, pressed forward, over- 
lapping the right, where they were met by Lieutenant-Colonel 
Evans with the reserves of the Twenty-first Kentucky, and by 
Colonel Swayne, with the Ninety-ninth ( )hio. These regi- 
ments, changing front to the right, held their ground firmly 
and administered volley after volley ui")on the skirmishers of 
the Confederate Sixth Kentucky, who pushed forward toward 
the ford. The front line falling back, followed rapidly by 
the entire Confederate line, loading as they retired, and turn- 
ing to fire upon their assailants, became intermingled with the 
reserves, when, in a confused mass, assailants and assailed 
fiditing: hand to hand, moved in a resistless volume toward the 
river. The reserve regiments, the Ninth Kentucky. Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Cram ; Nineteenth Ohio, Lieutenant-Colonel 
Manderson, and the Eleventh Kentucky, Major Mottley. un- 
daunted l)y the disaster upon the right, advanced through a 
thick undergrowth of wild briars, and came suddenly upon 
Adam's and Preston's Brigades, which, driving FyfFe's Brig- 
ade and the Seventy-ninth Indiana before them, were moving 



18 

with rapid strides toward Grose's position on the extreme left. 
Meanwhile the brigades of Hanson and Pillow had gained po- 
sitions to their right and the movement toward the ford threat- 
ened to cut these regiments still remaining on the left off from 
retreat. At Colonel Manderson's suggestion, Colonel Grider 
now ordered his brigade to fall back to the river. Colonel 
Grider, bearing his regimental flag in his hand, rallied his 
brigade three times in succession while retiring, and checked 
the advance of the Confederate Une by volleys of musketry. 
The pursuit of Beatty's three brigades led the Confederate col- 
umns to the right of Grose, and as soon as it could be done with 
safety Livingston opened upon the advance with his artillery, 
but in obedience to an order from General Rosecrans crossed 
the river and reopened from the opposite shore. 

The space between the river bank and the ridge occupied 
by Grose's Brigade was now a scene of the wildest disorder. 
Instances of the most exalted courage were displayed. It was 
here that Corporal Hochersmith, color guard of the Twenty- 
first Kentucky, and Sergeant Gunn, of the same regiment, won 
the gold medals voted them by the legislature of their native 
State. When confronted by a squad of Lewis' skirmishers, 
who demanded his flag, the brave corporal said: "You can 
take me but not my colors," and threw the flag over their 
heads into the river, where it was seized by Sergeant Gunn 
and borne in safety through a shower of balls to the opposite 
shore, where the regiment immediately rallied around it. 

It may well be understood that General Crittenden, under 
whose observation his old division had been driven from its 
position back across the river, was by no means an uninter- 
ested spectator of the scene. It had all passed so rapidly as 
to afford no time to reinforce the line when first assaulted, and 
when it had commenced falling back the west side of the 



19 

river was evidently the best position to reform and reinforce 
it. His men had no sooner gained the low ground near tlie 
river than, turning to his chief of artillery, he said: "Xow. 
Mendenhall, you must cover my men with your cannon." 
Never was a more tremendous response to so simple a re- 
quest. In his report, Captain Mendenhall says: "Captain 
Swallow had already opened with his battery. I orderetl 
Lieutenant Parsons to move a little forward and open with 
his guns, then rode back to bring up Lieutenant Estepp with 
his Eighth Indiana Battery. Meeting Captain Morton, with his 
brigade of Pioneers, he asked for advice, and I told him to 
move briskly forward with his brigade and send his battery 
to the crest of the hill near the batteries already engaged. The 
Eighth Indiana Battery took position on the right of Lieuten- 
ant Parsons. Seeing that Lieutenant Osborne was in position 
between Parsons and Estepp, I rode to Lieutenant Stevens. 
Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania Battery, and ordered him to change 
front to the left and open fire ; then to Captain Standart. and 
directed him to move to the left with his gims, and he took 
position covering the ford. I found that Captain Bradley had 
anticipated my wishes, and had changed front to fire to the 
left, and opened up(jn the enemy. This battery was near the 
railroad. Lieutenant Livingston crossed the river and opened 
fire again. During this terrible encounter, of little more than 
an hour in duration, forty-three pieces belonging to the left 
wing; the 'Board of Trade' Battery, and nitie guns from Gen- 
eral Negley's division — fifty-eight pieces of artillery — played 
upon the enemy." The effect of the storm of iron that swept 
the front of these batteries is indescribable. It tore througli 
the mass of men as they swarmed down the slope, mowing 
down scores at each discharge. Not less than one hundred 
shots per minute were fired with unerring aim. Branches of 



20. 

trees, lopped ofif by cannon balls, pinioned men to the earth. 
For a few minutes they held their ground ; then a wild terror 
seized upon them and bore them away. General Hanson fell 
among tlie first. His brigade lost over 400 in killed and 
wounded; the loss in the division was 1,400. There was no 
thought now of attacking Grose; there was but one thought 
paramount in the hearts of all, and that was to get to a place 
of safety. They no sooner ttirned than Beatty's men were 
upon them, pouring in volley after volley upon the retreating 
enemy. Hazen's Brigade crossed further down the stream ; 
Jeff C. Davis on his left. Miller and I\Iorton at the ford, and 
moving rapidly forward the line swept up the slope. The 
artillery fire ceased, and the minnie rifles, taking up the refrain 
continued it until darkness closed the scene. Three guns of 
Wright's Battery, abandoned by Breckinridge, to whose di- 
vision it belonged, stood upon the crest of the hill. The 
horses, killed by the tempest of iron that had fallen here, lay 
heaped together ; the gunners, mangled by exploded shells, 
dotted the ground around the battery. As the Union line 
pressed forward on each side a boy clad in Confederate gray 
(Private Wright), mounted upon one of the guns, stood 
guard over the wreck. Swinging a hatchet above his head 
he shouted : "The first Yankee that touches one of these guns 
dies." Saluting him with a rousing cheer the line pressed on., 
leaving this second Cassabianca master of the situation. 

Although the Confederate forces, yielding to the irresistible 
logic of Mendenhall's guns, had considered not so much upon 
the order of going as upon its rapidity, until beyond the range 
of the artillery, many of them rallied behind Robinson's Bat- 
tery and Anderson's Brigade in the narrow skirt of timber, 
from which they emerged to the assault. The Union line ad- 
vanced and took position upon the ground from which Beatty 



had been driven an hour before. The picket hnes of both 
armies occupied opposite sides of the open field, over which 
Breckinridge had advanced, and darkness covered the battle- 
field. During the night General Cleburne moved his division 
over to its original position on the right, in support of Breck- 
inridge, and General Hardee resumed command of that portion 
of the line. 

Apprehending the possible success of a flank attack upon 
his left, Bragg had caused all the tents and baggage to be 
loaded on wagons and sent to the rear. On Saturday morn- 
ing, the 3d of January, the soldiers of both armies had been 
in battle for four days and nights; their provisions, if cooked 
at all. were scanty and unfit to eat; their clothing soaked with 
rain and stiff with mud, with no fires to dry them and to warm 
their chilled bodies, they had responded with a will to every 
command. With death beckoning them to his clammy em- 
brace they had advanced with unfaltering tread, leaving their 
trail marked by the dead forms of their comrades. Even now 
there was no word of complaint. Tt rested with the generals 
in command of the contending armies whether another holo- 
caust of lives should be offered before either would acknowl- 
edge himself vanquished. No thought of retreat had at any 
time entered the minds of Rosecrans, Thomas, or Crittenden. 
With one exception, neither of the division commanders in 
the center or on the left wings had favored it. McCook, after 
his bloody repulse on the 31 st, had advised falling back upon 
Nashville upon purely military grounds, but had readily ac- 
quiesced in the decision of the commanding general to "fight 
or die right here." The fugitives in his command who had 
not pursued their shameless way to Nashville had rallied to 
their standards and were anxious to restore their tarnished lau- 
rels. The losses during the three days of battle were nearly 



22 

evenly divided. General Bragg acknowledged a loss of 9,000 in 
killed and wounded, 25 per cent of his army of 38,250, while 
General Rosecrans' report shows a loss of 8,778, over 20 per 
cent of killed and wounded of his force of 43,400. It is im- 
possible to do full justice to the heroic constancy of the sol- 
diers of the Union, whose valor wrung victory from defeat on 
the morning of the 31st of December, and who all through 
that terrible day bared their breasts to the storm of battle. 
To the living the great wealth of a Nation's gratitude is due, 
but to those to whom death came in the cause of National 
unity, his 

"Voice sounds like a prophet's word 
And in its solemn tones are heard 
The thanks of millions yet to be." 

It came like a pasan of victory to the ears of the long suf- 
fering President and to the sorely taxed patience of the loyal 
people of the United States. It fell with the dull thud of a 
mortal wound upon the hearts of the Southern people. Gone 
and forever dispelled were the fond delusions that one Con- 
federate was equal to three Yankees. Henceforth it was 
known by each that victory would perch upon the banner of 
the strongest force, and that the god of battle was on the side 
of the heaviest artillery. As the blood of the martyr is the 
seed of the church, so was that spilled at Stones River the 
inspiration by which the magnificent Army of the Cumberland 
bore its banners through two years more of carnage to final 
victory. They renewed their vows of fidelity to the flag of 
their country upon the field of Chickamauga and upon the 
bloody slope of Mission Ridge, and through a hundred days 
of battle to Atlanta, at Franklin, and Nashville. Marching 
through Georgia with Sherman to the sea, the devoted sol- 
diery followed their leaders with unfaltering courage, billow- 
ing every battle-field with the graves of their fallen comrades. 



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